Getting the 1968 Corvette right was critical for Chevrolet; so critical, in fact, that the car was delayed a year (it was supposed to be introduced in 1967). As it turns out, 1968 Corvettes were the best-selling ones up to that point, with 28,566 sold, including this gorgeous survivor example listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has already exceeded $19,000, there’s no reserve and I’m wishing I were the one that will make the trip to Brooklyn, New York to pick up the car!
This is claimed to be the original Cordovan Maroon paint! The seller tells us that when found, it had been stored in a garage since 1980. After acquiring the car, they had the brakes, gas tank and exhaust refurbished and that it now starts, runs and drives like new.
Just look at that profile! Here’s your Corvette trivia for the day; as you might imagine the styling of the 1968 Corvette was a highly guarded secret — but the extra year delay allowed Hot Wheels to bring out a “Custom Corvette” (unauthorized) that looked remarkably like the new C3! Supposedly GM was horrified at the time!
You can see the new exhaust and a little surface rust here on the chassis, and perhaps the remnants of a long-ago off-road excursion? Nothing I’m worried about.
What appears to be the original convertible top still works.
The car is also equipped with the optional factory hardtop. Not that I’d ever put it on, but I guess it’s nice to have.
The original interior looks very inviting and includes the optional telescoping steering wheel that was only fitted to 6,477 cars (at an original cost of $42.15). While not “as new” I can’t find any fault in the survivor interior. And that is a four-speed shifter, not the typical automatic for you row-your-own folks like me.
I can’t imagine there are many other of the 18,630 1968 Corvette convertibles produced that are still equipped with their original L79 327 cubic inch V8 engines, especially ones that look like this. If you want to check it out further, the seller was kind enough to include this video in the eBay ad. I should note that watching the video may end up hurting your bank account; unfortunately, I’d have to sell a few other cars before buying this beautiful C3. Let us know if one of you does!
There seems to be a few on BF that wouldn’t own a car if it doesn’t run 10 seconds in the quarter. Personally for me this would be a great car to cruise in. Nice car that doesn’t need a complete restoration just to drive it. Turn key and enjoy.
Could not have said it better! This is one I’d love to have in the garage.
Personally I’d prefer a 69 but beggars can’t be choosers.
This is how to buy them. The L79 is a very strong powerplant and would really be a joy in this chassis. One of the nicest Vettes to come up lately.
That vinyl covered hardtop is SWEET!!!! Awesome old vette!
This car qualifies as a ‘survivor’ in my book. Rare color that looks good. And the Hot Wheels trivia ? was cool. I never knew. Say Jamie, could you post the link when you get time? thanks, Mike.
Sorry, Mike! Fixed the post :-)
There’s 2 types of motors, tall motors and stump pullers. A proper 327 will sing at higher rpm’s.
Was not the1967 Hot Wheels Custom Corvette based on the 1965 Mako Shark II GM concept car? Which also influenced the C3 vettes. Doubt if GM was horrified.
If you look closely at the die-cast, it’s not the Mako (unlike the Aurora Thunderjet/Speedline cars), it’s the C3 a year ahead of time.
They ran an internal investigation to try to find out how Mattel got the plans. It was supposed to be a big secret. Don’t recall if they ever learned who the leaker was.
What amazed me most in the video was that the factory tachometer was at zero with the engine off! I have owned a dozen GM cars with factory tachometers, as have most of my buddies. Usually they will rest at around 1,500 rpm when off.
This Corvette has a cable driven (mechanical) tach, and should be at zero when the engine’s off. While most GM, and other brand cars have electronic tachs, prior to 1975, Corvettes had cable driven tachs. On 61 and earlier Corvettes, the tach was driven off of the back of the generator, and on 62-74 Corvettes, it was driven off of the distributor.
I’m not a big fan of 68’s (too many expensive and hard to find one year only parts), but this one looks like a pretty nice example.
Thanks for the explanation. Had a brand new 1977 Corvette in the family that also did not rest at zero with the engine off.
And the 90 degree tach cable adapter made reconnecting that cable a LOT easier!.
strange,,, my tach and speedo both register “zero” with engine off… since the little twisty cables aren’t going round round there’s nothin to move those little gear trains……….just sayin’
That “stuff” you see at the bottom is very likely the remnants of that funky yellow fiberglass insulation that GM put on the underside to try to keep heat out.
Great 68 in a great color, if the frame and birdcage are manageable rust, then this would be a great Corvette to buy!
Surprised that nobody has mentioned the rare options. How many ’68 4 speed convertibles were spec’ed with AC? I’ll bet not many.
I’d drive that ‘vette with a 235 inline six and a tach that ran backwards..no matter…I’d be the coolest kid on the block!!…}:)
Very nice Corvette , I was trying to see if the portion of the nose in the front between the headlights and the hood showed the common bumps caused by the aluminum rivets that fasten the support to the body corroding over time. Leads me to believe that this beautiful car has been restored. It would take an in person inspection to confirm the status for being an unrestored survivor, no matter what, I’d love to call it mine, those L79’s were a rockin’ motor.
John Delorean, C3 based on the Pontiac Banshee concept car.
I like this better than my 66. For a fraction of the cost.
Tachometer cable? I really hope that is an optical illusion,and new owner doesn’t have to remove exhaust at each oil change😁
Something looks wonky with the radiator support and fan shield. It looks like original paint that has begun to spider web and it is “road sanded” on the lower sides behind the wheels.
It would make a nice driver.
From what I’ve heard and read, as is typical for a first year GM model, the 68 was supposed to have all sorts of problems. Saying that this car drives like new does not seem to be a good selling point.
The biggest problem was water intrusion through the door sills. There was a modification done for the 1969 model year. This car has been retrofitted with a “dam” on the bottom edge of the door sill (a black pencil sized roll in the pictures).
Those headrests gotta be rare for ’68! Odd few people ever adjusted them properly back then.
Is that “trunk area” in the rear overhang section accessible on the convertible, like it is on the coupe? If not, what’s back there? Empty space & just the gas filler tube?
Headlight knob may be missing in the video.
Big gap where the roof meets the body – can water get in?
This car has rare options, headrests, the color, the L79 motor, air conditioning, the vinyl hardtop, etc, try this link for a breakdown of the options,
https://corvettestory.com/corvette-options/1968-corvette-options/options-Corvette.php?optionyear=1968
The area you call the overhang is occupied by the gas tank. when the soft top is folded down , (just foward of the bulkhead) it takes up some room but things van be stored there if they are not too tall, much the same room as a coupe. The ebay listing has a bunch of pictures. There is a headlight knob, the tops have a substantial weather strip between the body of the car and the top, I never experienced any water leaks in that area in any of the C3 convertibles that I owned. Bidding is at $20,300.00 so far, it sounds like a bargain . I’d love to own it !
Great car and the price isn’t out of the world yet!! I love the 327 motor!! Had two of them and they ran great with ample power!! This is a car to get in and drive!! I only wish I had the 20k to bid on it!!